Although they took along less than sixty pounds of the meat that and the great bearskin proved a good load when strapped to a sweeping cedar bough, and they had all they wanted to do dragging the prize back to camp. By the time the shelter was gained, the sun was shining more hotly than ever, and the water from the snow was running in all directions.
“It will be too muddy to go surveying to-day,” announced Washington. “So you can dress up the hide, if you wish, and then we will rest for a big day’s work to-morrow.”
A week of clear weather followed the adventure with the bear, and during that time the surveyor and Dave completed the tasks which had brought them to the neighborhood. Then came a heavy fall of rain and they moved down to the Shenandoah. Here, on a Sunday morning, two negroes from the Washington home at Mount Vernon appeared, with tidings that Lawrence Washington was quite ill and wished his brother to return home without delay.
Much alarmed, George Washington prepared to start for Mount Vernon that afternoon. With Dave and the negroes he journeyed to Denton’s and here took leave of the youth, after paying him the wages promised.
“I trust we meet again,” he said. “You have done very well, and if you ever wish to continue surveying come to me and I will do what I can for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Washington, I will remember that,” answered Dave. “And let me say that I think you have been more than kind to me.” With this they parted, after a hearty handshake. Little did Dave dream of the different circumstances under which they were to meet again!
Dave had so many things to carry, including the bearskin, that he was compelled to borrow a horse from Denton, although he had to wait ten days for the animal. He promised to return the horse in the spring and the settler was glad enough to have the animal off his hands during the winter, when he could not use him and yet would have to feed him.
“Ain’t ye afraid to go it alone?” asked Denton.
“No,” answered Dave. “Coming over, I noted the trail closely, and I’m sure I’ll have small trouble, if the snow holds off.”
He set out bright and early on the following morning and reached Winchester without mishap. Here he remained over night and then struck out for Will’s Creek. He found the trail very much as it had formerly been and journeyed for part of the distance with two pioneers from Pennsylvania, and spent one night in camp with them. The Pennsylvanians were Germans who could not speak a word of English, yet they were good natured and Dave got along very nicely with them.